St Paul's Bay , Malta .

Wignacourt Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Wignacourt), also known as Saint Paul's Bay Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' San Pawl il-Baħar), is a bastioned watchtower in St. Paul's Bay, Malta. It was the first of six Wignacourt towers to be built, and it was completed in 1610. It replaced the role of Ta' Tabibu farmhouse which was previously known as Dejma Tower. An artillery battery was added a century later in 1715. Today the tower is a museum. Wignacourt Tower was the second tower to be built in the Maltese islands, after Garzes Tower on Gozo. It was also the first tower to be built on the main island. As Garzes Tower was demolished in 1848, Wignacourt Tower is now the oldest surviving watchtower in Malta. ______________________________________________________________ Saint Paul's Islands lie about 80 metres off the coast of Mellieħa, Malta. The island can split into two islands by a shallow isthmus according to the sea level, and when they are split the larger island on the west is known as Saint Paul's Island while the smaller one on the east is known as Quartz Island. Both islands are made of upper coralline limestone. Saint Paul's Island's landscape is a maritime garigue dominated by golden samphire, Maltese fleabane and other species. Quartz Island is more exposed and has less vegetation than the main island. A population of the land snail Trochoidea spratti can be found on the islands. Wild rabbits used to live on the island but the population died off due to disease. A subspecies of the Maltese wall lizard known as Podarcis filfolensis kieselbachi also lived there but the population apparently became extinct in 2005. ______________________________________________________________ Located in St. Paul’s Bay, St. Paul’s Shipwreck Church is located along the waterfront.. The church is also known as St. Paul’s Bonfire Church and commemorates the site where the shipwreck survivors, including Paul, swam ashore and a bonfire was built for them by the locals.. The 14th century Church was rebuilt after being destroyed during World War II. It has 3 paintings depicting scenes of St Paul's shipwreck, attributed to Cassarino although others attribute them to Lionello Spada, both disciples of Caravaggio. The Collegial Chapter entrusted the running of this church to the parish of St. Paul's Bay in 2008 ______________________________________________________________

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